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Okay the cps thing was in 2010 and there is no indication that bio mom's parental rights were terminated, just that she, at that time, lost custody. If she's improved since then and demonstrated that she can be a fit parent (not a fun process), then maybe she deserves custodial time again, I don't know this case. I do know that if mom deserves custodial time, it's also not her fault that dad is deployed.

I don't know why the court is refusing a telephone appearance though. That's pretty normal. It's not ideal, but if he's on a sub then I'd let it go.

Electronics Engineer here: Telephone appearances are not possible without endangering the mission and the entire crew. Communication is one-way (the submarine can receive but not transmit) and limited to a few characters per minute.